Cleaning

Sweep-It Set

You don’t have to tell me how hard it is to keep dust and dirt at bay; I have a dog that likes to step in mud at every opportunity, plus a cat that sheds fur all the effing time. I have Ole Jensen’s Dustpan and Brush, but this Sweep-It Set by Klaus Rath for Stelton looks like it would be more functional for everyday messes. The lotus wood brush nests neatly with the dustpan, and it can be easily stored under the sink or hung from a hook.(more…)

Collapsible Pack-Away Bucket

Never underestimate the need for a bucket. Whether it saves the day in the laundry, kitchen, bathroom, or garden, it’s one of the handiest things to have around. Now, add to the ubiquitous bucket this one particular function: collapsibility. Suddenly it’s much easier to stash in the smallest of places, and have one at hand whenever the need appears.(more…)

Sweeper and Funnel

It’s just a regular ol’ sweeper and dustpan, so what’s the big deal? Well, the dustpan has a hollow handle, which allows you to store the sweeper perfectly inside, and, perhaps more importantly, also enables you to cleanly deposit dust & debris into the trash with ease. Smart!(more…)

Hoop Brushes

It pains me to put these handmade Hoop Brushes by Fredericks & Mae into the cleaning category, but I think it would be too pretentious to classify them as strictly art. Now, if I owned one or two or three of these, I would be tempted to clean with them (maybe occasionally for spots with dust) and display them as art somehow, but you’re the master of your own domain. What would you do, use them for function or just for display?(more…)

The Shop Brush

‘Nature abhors a vacuum‘ and you do too as there’s that pesky cord to untangle and the filters to clean. Tidy your space with natural horse hair bristles and the oiled beechwood handle of the Shop Brush from Best Made Co. It’s sure to sweep up all manner of dust to your satisfaction, no electricity required.(more…)

Dustpan and Brush, Ole Jensen

It’s not often that we actually admire the shape of a dustpan. Ole Jensen was inspired to create this particular set when cleaning his studio with a folded newspaper in one hand and a broom in the other. This version has a dustpan made of a thin, flat sheet of polypropylene with a natural bristle brush and beechwood handle. Simply slip the brush handle through the grommet to hang the set after you sweep up.(more…)

Touchscreen Mist Cleaner

Your devices’ screens are gross. Who knows what bacteria and ‘schmutz’ are lurking upon their smudgy surfaces? If you had one of these AM Touchscreen Mist Cleaners, you could clean them right up. Spray the mist, and then use the microfiber cloth-clad bar to wipe off all the smudges. Ta-da! A clean screen. Yes, you could buy or make your own alcohol-free cleaner, and sure, you have plenty of microfiber cloths, but the fact that AM has combined both into one handy package means it’ll be easier to keep things pristine. Designed and made by AM, where unfortunately most of the cleaning items/tools seem to be sold out.(more…)

Broom Holder

Your broom needs a little love. Trust me, it told me so. It’s sick of being thrown in a closet and left on the floor, like it means nothing to you, and it wants to be held aloft by this Broom Holder, so it’s kept neatly on the wall, at the ready for your next mess. Dare I say this holder is nice enough to not live in a closet? Your decision, but I think it just might be (especially if you have one of Minam’s Barn Brooms).(more…)

Chikuno Cube House

The above photo initially baffled me, as I wasn’t quite sure what I was looking at. The honeycomb structure is what caused the confusion, as the Chikuno Cube is normally shown as a black, charcoal cube, and its honeycomb composition is not usually highlighted. If you’re not familiar, the Chikuno Cube is made of activated bamboo charcoal and clay, and with tiny air pockets, the cube absorbs odor; to “recharge” the cube, just set it in direct sunlight for a few hours. The simple wood base gives the cube a home, allowing it to make sense amongst your other things in your closet or bathroom. And, yes, $68 is quite a bit of money to spend on a air freshener, however, I’d argue it’s a much better alternative (both in function and in the looks department) to some of your other choices*.

Clean Slate

Spring cleaning = blah. If you need motivation to clear out the cobwebs, why not get a few new cleaning supplies that will help you along? Someone has added quite the selection of brushes, tools, and cleaning agents to help get our houses in order, and there’s a good chance it’ll kick some of us into cleaning mode. Check out the collection- the brushes from Redecker are shown above, fyi.

Asahineko Table Broom & Dust Pan

Go ahead and scoff at the $140 price tag. It is a table broom and dust pan, after all. However, the next time you’ve swept crumbs off the table with your gross sponge or inept hands and scattered some of the mess on the floor and chairs, don’t come back here complaining that there’s nothing you can do about it.(more…)

Hakutan

If you have $300 and a not-so-nice smelling room, you either buy a boatload of ugly artificial air fresheners or you buy the Hakutan. As you may know, the Hakutan is a section of White Charcoal with an extremely high carbon content; this high grade of charcoal cleanses the air naturally and remains active indefinitely. It regulates humidity (think bathroom) and absorbs odors (kitchen smells), all while looking like a small natural sculpture. And, if you should ever tire of it, you can dispose of the Hakutan by crushing it and mixing with potting soil, as it makes an excellent fertilizer.

Nail Brush Soap Dish

It’s a soap dish and nail brush all in one. Handy? Of course. Functional? Yes sir/ma’am. Made for the the mudroom, workshop, kitchen, you name it. Materials: natural stout pig bristle and specially ridged beachwood handle.

Housekeeping Brushes

You super finicky housekeepers, check out the huge selection of household cleaning brushes over at Nessentials. It’s pretty ridiculous, and will have you going cross eyed with all the specific tools to keep dirt and dust at bay.(more…)

SRF/Iris Hantverk Brushes

Chances are you’ve heard of Iris Hantverk (or SRF Hantverk), the Swedish company that handcrafts brushes using traditional techniques. I’ve been a fan for a while now and find myself more often than not disappointed that retailers seem to stock only a few pieces of the vast collection. Of course, you can order the brushes directly through Iris Hantverk, but unfortunately their website isn’t the easiest to navigate. So, for your perusal (should you be interested), here are a few retailers that stock a considerable amount of the collection.